Chemical fire-extinguisher apparatus



Feb. 26, 1929.

J. E. ALLEN ET AL CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1927 JNVEHTDRS, Jqmu fJuvar-d Allen 4 Henry George fifi lwoep u mflum,

A t'tomego.

Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EDWARD ALLEN AND HENRY GEORGE SCHWOEPPE, 02E LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOBS TO BOYER FIRE APPARATUS COMPANY, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, A

CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

CHEMICAL FIRE-EXTINGUISHER AJZPARATUS.

Application filed July 22,

This invention relates generally to a chemical fire extinguisher apparatus of the type employing chemicals, as an acid and a base, held apart until the apparatus is put in use, and in particular to the structure for removably supporting the acid container and permitting the acid to be released from the container by a mechanism contained within the apparatus but actuated from without.

"The invention is described in one particular term as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1, is an end elevation of the fire extinguisher apparatus;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary side elevation;

Fig. 3, a transverse section on an enlarged scale on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary vertical elevation of the acid container attaching mechanism, on a still further enlarged scale; and

Fig. 5, a top plan view of the acid container cover on a scale enlarged from that in Fig. 4.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

A tank is employed with a relatively large opening through one side, through which is inserted a thimble 11 depended substantially to within the tank 16; secured to the tank by the flange 12; and extended upwardly to screw threadedly receive the cap 13 with the gasket 14 therebetween t insure a gas tight joint. 1

' From the underside of the cap 13 is centrally depended a boss 15 which is bored vertically therethrough to slidingly receive and guide the stem 16. The lower end of the stem 16 is engaged in the acid container cap 17 entering centrally into the boss 18 projected upwardly from the cap 17. This boss 18 enters into the counter bore in the lower end of the boss 15 and carriers a gasket 19 on its top face so that as the boss 18 is drawn upwardly into the boss .15 to compress the gasket 19, a gas tight joint is formed about the stem 16.

The upper end of the stem 16 projects upwardly from the cap 13 to carry a nut 20 on its upper end, and a coiled spring 21 is carried about the stem 16 to be compressively engaged between the under side of the nut 20 and the top of the cap 13 whereby the stem 16 will normally be drawn up- 1927. Serial No. 207,680.

wardly to compress the gasket 19 within the c-ounterbore of the boss 15 as above indicated. A depression is formed in the cap from the top side to provide a lower seat tor the spring 21 and also to serve as a means permitting the use of a long spring without having to extend the stem 16 beyond the cap 13 the full length of the spring.

An acid container is formed by the metal housing 22 with a perforated metal base 23 to retain therein the acid holding bottle 24. having the stopper 25 in its upper end. The acid container cap 17 is formed with an annular depending rib 26 to closely contact the inner side of the housing 22 at its upper end with the circumferential lip 27 extending laterally over the top edge of the housing 22 so that the cap 17 will not drop therein.

Plates 28 are secured to the housing 22 to project by their upper ends above the top of the housing 22, and the cap 17 is notched through the lip 27 to receive these plates therethrough, Figs. 4 and 5. A latch plate 29'is carried on the top face of the cap 17 to swing pivotall around the boss 18 so that the outer end s of the late 29 may be entered into notches 30 cut trom the corresponding sides of the plates 28. By so entering the plate 29 into these notches, the housing 22 is retained so as to hang from the cap 17.

In order to insure the latch plate 29 remaining in the latched position, a stud 31 is secured to the cap 17 and passes up through a hole 32 in the plate'29 of much larger diameter than is that of the stud 31, the hole 32 being of such size as will permit the plate 29 being moved into and out of engagement with the notches 30. A washer 33 is slidingly carried on the stud 31 to rest on the plate 29, and a spring 34 carried on the stud v31 is compressively engaged against the washer 33 by bearing against the upper washer 35 fixed on the upper end of the stud 31. Such means permit the plate 29 to be rotated, but the frictional resistance set up by the spring 34 pressing the plate 29 against the cap 17 effectually prevents any accidental movement of the plate 29 that would permit the housing 22 to drop from the cap 17. j

The base 23 carries a plunger 86 slidingly guided vertically therethrough, and the plunger 36 has the upper conical head 37 to be in close proximity to the bottom of the bottle 24. The plunger 36 depends from the base 23 to near the wall of the tank 10 and has a nut 38 secured to its lower end to present a large area toward the tank wall.

Referring to Fig. 3, the bottle 24: is broken to release the acid contained therein by recharged by removing the cap 13 which will,

withdraw the depended housing 22 with the broken bottle therein to give an appreclable opening into the tank through which suit- The latch able chemicals may be put in. plate 29 is turned to one side to permit disengagement of the housing 22 which is then removed and the broken contents emptied out. A new bottle of acid is then placed in the housing 22, the housing secured to the cap 17 by the plate 29 and inserted through the thimble l1 and the cap 13 tightly screwed down into position. The thimble 11 serves as a guide throughout the travel 3 of the housing 22 both in entering the housing into the tank, and in the operation of breaking the bottle. The thimble 11 also serves to steady the housing 22 against vibration or tending to bend the stem 16.

Having described our invention in the one particular form, we do not desire to be limited to the precise structure as shown, nor any more than may be required by the following claims, as it is obvious many structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVe claim: I I

1. The combination with a tank having an opening therein and a cap closing said opening, of an acid container holder movably suspended below the cap, plunger mounted to enter said holder, and means for pushing said holder and plunger toward a side of said tank to cause said plunger to travel inwardly of said holder upon contact of the plunger with the tank.

2. The combination with a tank having an opening therein and a cap. closing said opening, or an acid container holder movably suspended below the cap, a plunger mounted to enter said holder, and means for pushing said holder and plunger toward a side of said tank to cause said plunger to travel inwardly of said holder upon contact of the plunger with the tank, said means being actuated from wit out the tank.

3; The combination with a tank having an opening therein and a cap closing said opening, of an acid container holder movably suspended below the cap, a plunger mounted to enter said holder, and means for pushing said holder and plunger toward a side of said tank to cause said plunger to travel inwardly of said holder upon contact of the plunger with the tank and said plunger being slidingly retained in the bottom of said holder.

el. The combination with a tank having an o pening therein, and a cap closing said opening, ot a stem slidingly passed through said cap, and movable thercthrough, spring means normally tending to hold said stein in an outward position, an acid container holder cover secured to the inner end of said stem, an acid container holder suspended from said cover and a plunger mounted to enter within said holder by contact with the tank upon sufficient inward travel of said stem.

5. The combination with a tank having an opening therein, and a cap closing said opening, of a stem slidingly passed through said cap and movable therethrough, spring means normally tending to hold said stem in an outward position, an acid container holder cover secured to the inner end of said stem, an acid container holder suspended from said cover and a plunger mounted to enter within said holder by contact with the tank upon sufficient inward travel of said stem and means for quickly detaching said holder from said cover.

6. The combination with a tank having an opening therein, and a cap closing said opening, of a stem slidingly passed through said cap,'an acid container holder suspended in said tank, and a plunger carried by the holdor in close proximity to the side of the tank and movable relative to the holder, said holder being adapted to be moved by said stem to cause said plunger to enter within said holderby contact of the plunger with said tank side. I

7. The combination with a tank having an opening therein, and a cap closing said opening, of a stem slidingly passed through said cap, an acid container holder suspended in said tank, and a plunger carried by the holder in close proximity to the side of the tank, and movable relative to the holder, said holder being adapted to be moved by said stein to cause said'plunger to enter within said holder by contact of the plunger with said tank side and means normally holding said holder away from the tank side overwhich said plunger is carried.

8. The combination with a tank having an opening therein and a cap closing said opening, of a stem slidingly passed through the cap, an acid holdercover fixed to the inner end oi the stem, spring means normally tending to hold the stem in an outward position,

an acid container holder, a plurality of plates extended upwardly from the holder, notches in said cover to receive said platestherethrough, a latch plate rotatably carried on the cover to engage said plates whereby the holder is suspended from the cover, and a plunger slidingly depended from the holder to terminate in close proximity to the wall of the tank.

9. The combination with a tank, of an acid container, a holder in the tank to carry the container, means extending outside from said holder whereby said holder may be raised and lowered from without the tank, a plunger movable with the holder and also positioned to travel inwardly of said holder upon sufficient lowering of the holder, and means for forcing said container against said plunger upon continued downward travel of the holder.

10. In a chemical fire extinguisher tank, an acid container suspended between the walls of the tank, said container being mounted so as to be capable of movement toward a wall from its normal position, and a plunger movable with and also independently of the container, and po-f sitioned to contact with said wall on predetermined movement of said container whereupon further movement of said container causes the container to contact with and to be broken by said plunger.

11. In a chemical fire extinguisher tank, an acid container yieldingly suspended from one side of the tank whereby said container may be caused to travel toward the opposite side of the tank, a plunger mounted to move along with the container, said plunger being positioned to contact said last tank side after an initial travel, whereupon continued travel of the container will cause said container to be broken over said plunger.

12. In a chemical fire extinguisher tank, an acid container yieldingly suspended from one side of the tank whereby said container may be caused to travel toward the opposite side of the tank, a plunger mounted to move along with the container, said plunger beingpositioned to contact said last tank side after an initial travel, whereupon continued travel of the container will cause said container to be broken over said plunger, and means to move said container actuated from without the tank.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JAMES EDWARD ALLEN.

HENRY GEORGE SCHWOEPPE. 

